Man arrested for littering after leaving flowers on fiancé’s grave – her father signed the warrant

A grieving man was arrested for littering in Alabama after leaving a handmade box of flowers on his 26-year-old fiancé’s grave after his would-be-father-in-law signed the arrest warrant.  

Winchester Hagans, 31, of Opelika, is facing littering charges after leaving a wooden flower box at Hannah Ford’s grave to honor the one-year anniversary of her death. She was killed in a car accident while driving home from a wedding venue. 

Hagans’ hand-carved flower box was decorated with photos of the couple and filled with her favorite flowers. ‘I just want to be able to put flowers by my fiancés grave,’ Hagans told WTVM.  

Hagans spoke with the city before leaving the flower box, and officials told him the box technically violated local rules but that they would not remove the memorial unless requested to do so by the family. 

When Hagans was later pulled over by police, he was shocked. ‘The officer came over and said, “Hey Mr. Hagans can you step out of the car, there is a warrant for your arrest.” I said, “No, that’s impossible, there’s no way.”

He later learned that his fiancé’s father, Tom Ford, had signed the arrest warrant. Hagans said he was never contacted by the man before the arrest. 

Ford, 26, died in a car accident in January 2021- a month after Hagans popped the question- while on her way home from visiting a local wedding venue

The warrant for Hagans’ arrest was signed by Ford’s father, Tom (not pictured). Hagans said he was not contacted by his almost-father-in-law before the arrest 

Hagans’ hand-carved flower box was decorated with photos of the couple and filled it with her favorite flowers 

Hannah Ford, 26, died in a car accident in January 2021 – a month after Hagans popped the question – while on her way home from visiting a local wedding venue. 

Hannah Ford, an up-and-coming political strategist, was the daughter of the Rev. Tom Ford III, a physical therapist and pastor of Grace Church in Montgomery, and Leigh Hubbard Ford. She is survived by her parents and seven siblings. 

Hagans is the son of Evangelist Rick Hagans, and the couple was well-known in local Evangelist circles.    

‘Even though she is gone I promised her I would never bring her cut flowers again. She was the love of my life the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with,’ he said.  

Ford was the daughter of the Rev. Tom Ford III, a physical therapist and pastor of Grace Church in Montgomery, and Leigh Hubbard Ford, and is survived by seven siblings (Pictured: The Ford family) 

Hannah, pictured, is survived by her parents and seven siblings

Hagans is the son of Evangelist Rick Hagans, and the couple was well-known in local Evangelist circles

The young woman is remembered as ‘a woman of faith who brought her convictions to government activism and was an important player in Alabama politics,’ according to AL.com. 

‘She may have been small in stature, but she was a giant when she walked in a room,’ Scott Dawson said. Hannah Ford served as his communications coordinator on the Birmingham Evangelist’s 2018 campaign for governor.  

The Ford family had no comment and Hagans did not immediately respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com. 

Hagans said he was never contacted by Hannah’s father before the arrest 

The young woman is remembered as ‘a woman of faith who brought her convictions to government activism and was an important player in Alabama politics’